Looseleaf binder

ABSTRACT

A rod type periodical binder having rod holding brackets formed of plastic. The rods are held in spaced elongated slots at least two of which are formed in each bracket. Struts are formed between the slots to strengthen the brackets.

United States Patent 1191 Anderson 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [54] LOOSELEAF BINDER1,818,302 8/1931 Cardoza 281/47 [75] Inventor: Carl D. Anderson,Northfield, lll. [73] Assignee: Donker Products, Inc., Chicago, Ill.Primary Exami"e' Rbert Peshock Attorney-Howard T. Markey, Alfred H.Plyer, Jr. [22] Wed: July 1971 and Edward M. Keating et al.

Appl. N0.: 166,697

'IIIIILIIIIIIIII.

[57] ABSTRACT A rod type periodical binder having rod holding bracketsformed of plastic. The rods are held in spaced elongated slots at leasttwo of which are formed in each bracket. Struts are formed between theslots to strengthen the brackets.

4 Claims, 4Drawing Figures LOOSELEAF BINDER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is directed to a rod type periodical binder and moreparticularly with a binder having rods holding brackets formed ofplastic.

An object of this invention is a rod type periodical binder having rodholding brackets which may be inexpensively formed of plastic yet whichwill be sturdy enough to securely hold the periodical binding rods inposition.

Another object is a rod type periodical binder having rod holdingbrackets which do not have to be manufactured or assembled to closetolerances.

Another object is a rod type periodical binder which permits the use ofshorter binding rods.

Other objects may be found in the following specification, claims anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more orless diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rod type periodical binder embodyingthe novel features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged top plan view of a portion of the binderback and a rod holding bracket;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the binder showing the bracketof FIG. 2 with several periodicals held in place; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a binder llembodying the novel features of this invention. The binder includes apair of covers 13 and 15 formed integrally with a back 17. Theperiodicals 19 or other paged materials such as magazines, catalogs andthe like are held between the covers by rods 21 in the manner shown inFIG. 3. The rods are held in the binder by brackets 23.

The brackets 23 of this invention are molded or otherwise formed from asuitable plastic such as natural polypropylene. Each bracket includes aflat base portion 29 and an upstanding elongated portion 31 which isarcuate in cross-section. A pair of elongated slots 35 and 37 ofgenerally rectangular cross-section are formed in the upstanding arcuateportion of each bracket adjacent to the flat base portion 29. The slotsare separated by a strut or stanchion 39 formed integrally withupstanding arcuate and flat base portions of the bracket. The loweredge-41 of each slot is flush with the top surface 43 of the flat baseportion. The brackets are fastened to the back 17 of the binder adjacentthe opposite ends thereof by means of rivets 47 which pass throughopenings (not shown) which may be molded or otherwise formed in the back17 and flat base portion 29 of the brackets.

When a bracket 23 is attached to the back 17 in the manner-shown inFIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the upstanding elongated portion 31 of the bracketcooperates with the back 17 to form an upstanding housing to receive theends of the rods 21 when the rods are inserted through the elongatedslots 35 and 37 of the brackets.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

This invention permits the use of low cost plastic brackets 23 in a rodtype periodical binder rather than the previously used metal brackets.The provision of at least two elongated rod receiving slots 35,37 ineach bracket rather than one permits the use of shorter rods. It alsopermits a reduction in the depth of the housing 31 which receives therods since the shorter slots require less overhang of the rods. Theminimum length of rod which will not accidentally disengage from the.

housing especially when the rods are not holding periodicals 19 isdetermined by the distance between one corner of a slot and thediagonally opposite corner of its matching slot in the other bracket.Since the slots of this invention are shorter, the rods may be shorterand will require a shorter depth of housing.

The use of more than one elongated slot in each bracket allows theinstallation of a strut 39 to add additional strength to the bracket.Although two elongated slots 35 and 37 have been shown in the bracket,it should be understood that a greater number may be provided dependingon the width of the back 17 and length of the bracket 23. The height ofthe slots 35, 37 is greater than the diameter of the rods 21 in order topermit movement of the rods away from the top surface 43 of the flatbase portion 29 of the bracket to accommodate periodicals of variousthicknesses.

Whereas, the preferred form of the invention has been described andshown, it should be understood that there are modifications, alterationsand changes which may be made without departing from the teachings ofthe invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be onlylimited by the claims attached hereto.

I claim:

1. A rod-type periodical binder having a pair of covers joined to aback, a pair of rod-holding brackets, each formed of plastic with abracket positioned adjacent each end of the back, each bracket having aflat base portion terminating in an inner free edge and an arcuateupstanding portion formed integrally therewith and extending arcuatelyup and over from the outer edge thereof, said flat base portionover-lying the back and being fastened thereto, said upstanding portioncooperating with said back to form an elongated housing open at eachend, at least two laterally elongated slots formed in the inner portionof said upstanding portion and extending along the length thereof in anend-to-end relationship with the slots of one bracket opening towardsand generally aligned with the corresponding slots of the other bracket,a strut formed in each of the upstanding portions between the slots, anda plurality of metal rod each having the opposite ends thereof extendingthrough the aligned slot of the upstanding portions and terminating inthe elongated housings thereof.

2. The periodical binder of claim 1 further characterized in that thebottom edge of each slot of the upstanding portions of each bracket islevel with the upper surface of said flat base portion.

3. The periodical binder of claim 1 further characterized in that thewidth of each slot is substantially greater than the diameter of one ofsaid metal rods.

4. A rod-holding bracket formed of plastic to be positioned and securedadjacent the inner end of the back of a periodical binder, the brackethaving a generally flat base portion terminating in an inner free edgeand an arcuate upstanding portion formed integrally with the outer freeedge and extending arcuately beyond the portion and extending along thelength thereof in an end-to-end relationship, and a strut formed in theupstanding portion between the slots.

1. A rod-type periodical binder having a pair of covers joined to a back, a pair of rod-holding brackets, each formed of plastic with a bracket positioned adjacent each end of the back, each bracket having a flat base portion terminating in an inner free edge and an arcuate upstanding portion formed integrally therewith and extending arcuately up and over from the outer edge thereof, said flat base portion over-lying the back and being fastened thereto, said upstanding portion cooperating with said back to form an elongated housing open at each end, at least two laterally elongated slots formed in the inner portion of said upstanding portion and extending along the length thereof in an end-to-end relationship with the slots of one bracket opening towards and generally aligned with the corresponding slots of the other bracket, a strut formed in each of the upstanding portions between the slots, and a plurality of metal rod each having the opposite ends thereof extending through the aligned slot of the upstanding portions and terminating in the elongated housings thereof.
 2. The periodical binder of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottom edge of each slot of the upstanding portions of each bracket is level with the upper surface of said flat base portion.
 3. The periodical binder of claim 1 further characterized in that the width of each slot is substantially greater than the diameter of one of said metal rods.
 4. A rod-holding bracket formed of plastic to be positioned and secured adjacent the inner end of the back of a periodical binder, the bracket having a generally flat base portion terminating in an inner free edge and an arcuate upstanding portion formed integrally with the outer free edge and extending arcuately beyond the outer free edge, the inner area of the upstanding portion being otherwise open so as to cooperate with the back of a binder to form an elongated housing, at least two laterally elongated slots formed in said upstanding portion and extending along the length thereof in an end-to-end relationship, and a strut formed in the upstanding portion between the slots. 